Protestors against the planned Jurston Farm development were lobbying throughout this week’s consultation meeting with the developers.

“We’ve seen a steady stream of people all afternoon and I haven’t spoken to a single person who thinks this is a good idea,” said Ann Loarridge, one of the founders of the Save Wellington group.

David Lohfink, planner with C G Fry & Sons

However, staff from the developers C G Fry & Sons were unsurprised by the leafleting outside the hall. “To be honest, I haven’t worked on a popular development in years,” said David Lohfink, Land & Planning Manager..

“Very few of us want a new houses built at the bottom of our garden. But as a company we really do believe in the consultation process. It’s not something we regard as a nuisance it’s an essential part of building new homes and in the past planners as a profession haven’t been good enough at involving the public.”

According to Mr Lohfink it’s likely to be at least two, perhaps three, years before there is “a spade in the ground” at the Jurston Farm site, with the development being built at around 50 houses a year, giving 2020 as a likely completion date for the final units of a 650-home project.

Earlier in the week Taunton Deane full council voted almost unanimously in favour of the Development Brief. An outline planning application is likely by the end of this year.

Wellington Town Council has voted to oppose the development but has no power to influence the eventual outcome of the process.